Sexual Health STDs Best At-Home STI Tests By Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Elizabeth Boskey, PhD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, is a social worker, adjunct lecturer, and expert writer in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 27, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Rochelle Collins, DO Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO LinkedIn Rochelle Collins, DO, is a board-certified family medicine doctor currently practicing in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by James Lacy Fact checked by James Lacy LinkedIn James Lacy, MLS, is a fact-checker and researcher. James received a Master of Library Science degree from Dominican University. Learn about our editorial process Print Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products, and articles are reviewed by healthcare professionals for medical accuracy. You can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Sexually transmitted infections, otherwise known as STDs or STIs, are incredibly common. If you are sexually active, you are potentially at risk. How common are they? Well, that depends on the STI. Here are a few of the most common conditions tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): More than 1 out of every 6 people aged 14 to 49 years have genital herpes.Between two and three million new chlamydia infections happen every year. Around 1 in every 20 young women between the ages of 14 and 24 have chlamydia. In some populations at particularly high risk, this number may be as high as 1 in 10.After dropping for many years, the rate of syphilis is again on the rise. These numbers may seem high or even unrealistic. That’s because most people living with STIs don’t know they have them. The vast majority of STIs go unrecognized, sometimes for years or even decades. Many people with STIs have no noticeable symptoms. The only way to know whether or not you have an STI is to get tested. Unfortunately, testing isn’t a standard part of medical care in the United States. Doctors regularly check their patients’ blood pressure. They don’t regularly check if they have an STI. The 8 Best At-Home STI Tests of 2022 Best Overall: Everlywell Best for Quick Results: STDCheck.com Best for Quick Treatment: LetsGetChecked Best for Test Options: Persona Labs Best for Payment Options: HealthLabs.com Best Direct: QuestDirect Best for Self-Collecting: NURX Best for Couples: MyLAB Box Best At-Home STI Tests View All Best At-Home STI Tests Everlywell STDCheck.com LetsGetChecked Persona Labs HealthLabs.com QuestDirect NURX MyLAB Box FAQs Why should you consider an at-home STI test? What makes for a good at-home STI test? Why Trust Us Best Overall : Everlywell Everlywell Learn More Type of Testing: Self-collected samples STI Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, Hepatitis C, HIV Time to Receive Results: The website says "within days" Cost: $49 to $149, coupons available The Everlywell test kit uses different methodologies for testing men and women. Men are tested with urine and blood, women with vaginal swabs and blood. The site offers consults for positive results through their independent physician network and there may be options for treatment. You can pay for your tests using an FSA/HSA card. Best for Quick Results : STDCheck.com STDCheck.com Learn More Type of Testing: Lab-based testing STI Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis A, B & C Time to Receive Results: 1 to 2 days Cost: $24 to $349 With STDCheck.com you choose which STI tests you’re interested in and order them online or by phone. That order is then sent to a lab near you, where you provide a urine and/or blood sample. This company has an option for HIV tests that can detect a new infection, and they also provide in-depth information about each STI they test for. You can use an FSA or HSA card to pay for these tests. A doctor is also available for you to consult with by phone. Best for Quick Treatment : LetsGetChecked Let’s Get Checked Learn More Get 30% off with code Verywell30. Type of Testing: Self-collected sample STD Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, herpes, ureaplasma, gardnerella, mycoplasma Time to Receive Results: 2 to 5 days Cost: $99 to $349, Let's Get Checked is offering a 30% off coupon using the code "VERYWELL30." At-home tests like this, where you collect your own sample, are not as accurate as tests performed in an on-site lab. In order to use these tests you will be asked to collect urine in a sample tube and/or prick your finger for blood. LetsGetChecked laboratories are CLIA certified and CAP and ISO-accredited and use capillary testing; it's a simple and painless method of blood testing that is as accurate as a venous blood draw. Some collection kits for this company can also be purchased at CVS. A nurse will call you if you test positive to help you figure out what to do next. They are also available to answer questions throughout the testing process. When there is a positive result for chlamydia, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis (caused by gardnerella), mycoplasma, or ureaplasma, Let's Get Checked can send your agreed upon treatment directly to your home at no additional cost. For other positive STI results, a physician will send a prescription to the pharmacy of your choosing. Your data is never shared with a third party and it is completely anonymized. Doctor consultations are not available. There's a 30% discount for Verywell users; the code is Verywell30. Best for Test Options : Persona Labs Persona Labs Learn More Use code Very10 for 10% off your purchase. Type of Testing: Lab-based testing STD Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, HIV-related, Hepatitis A, B & C, herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human t-cell lymphotropic virus Time to Receive Results: 2 to 10 business days Cost: $46 to $522 This site offers more STI testing options than many other companies, but it is difficult to navigate. There is also relatively little information about STIs for which they offer testing. However, doctors consultations are available, and they will prescribe prescriptions to treat certain STIs. Best for Payment Options : HealthLabs.com HealthLabs.com Learn More Type of Testing: Lab-based testing STI Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis B & C, herpes type 1 and 2 Time to Receive Results: 1 to 3 business days Cost: $129 to $444 Like most lab-based testing companies, with HealthLabs.com you choose which STI tests you’re interested in and order them online or by phone. That order is then sent to a lab near you, where you provide a urine and/or blood sample. This company has an option for HIV tests that can detect a new infection, and they also provide good information about appropriate testing windows for all of their options. You can use an FSA or HSA card to pay for these tests. They have specialists who will help you understand your results, and physicians are available for a consultation if your results mandate it. Best Direct : QuestDirect QuestDirect Learn More Type of Testing: Lab-based testing STI Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, herpes simplex 1 and 2, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis B & C Time to Receive Results: Typically within 3 to 5 business days Cost: $49 to $379 Many other at-home STI tests will send you to Quest for testing. Using QuestDirect cuts out the middle man. Quest also offers confirmatory testing for several STIs, which reduces the risk of a false positive. However, the STI testing information on their site is less comprehensive than many. In addition, this company does not connect you to a healthcare provider. Best for Self-Collecting : NURX NURX Learn More Type of Testing: Self-collected samples STI Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis C Time to Receive Results: Within 7 business days Cost: $150 to $220, accepts insurance Although self-collected samples aren’t necessarily as good as samples taken in the lab, NURX tests do one very smart thing. Instead of just collecting urine and/or blood, they also have you collect a vaginal swab, throat swab, and/or rectal swab. This makes it possible to test for oral and anal STIs that might otherwise be missed. Because of this, NURX tests might be a better option than some lab-based tests for individuals who have condomless sex. In addition, they provide unlimited access to a medical team. Best for Couples : MyLAB Box MyLabBox Learn More Type of Testing: Self-collected samples STI Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, HPV, herpes, HIV, mycoplasma. PreP and vaginal discharge options are available. Time to Receive Results: 2 to 5 days Cost: $79 to $369, $499 for a couple’s kit, coupons available Like NURX, My Lab Box offers kits that allow you to self swab the mouth and rectum, not just test for genital STIs. They also have several additional test options, such as a kit that provides tests for both parts of a couple, and tests to diagnose different causes of vaginal discharge. It has some information about each STI, but no good information about testing windows. Physician consults are available if you test positive, and it may be possible to get a prescription for treatment. Otherwise, a certified STI counselor is available, but not a physician. FAQs Why should you consider an at-home STI test? Because STI testing isn’t usually a part of preventative health care, people generally have to ask for an STI test if they want one. Depending on who you are this can feel embarrassing. Worse, doctors are not always aware of STI test options or know how to order them for you. They may also feel embarrassed talking about sex and sexual risk, just like their patients. In addition, some people are worried about their doctor or health insurer knowing anything about their sexual history. That can make them reluctant to seek out testing through the usual channels, even if testing in a doctor’s office may well be covered by insurance.For these and other reasons, there has been a growing interest in at-home STI testing. However, not all at-home STI tests are the same. The most accurate at-home STI tests are the same tests that you’d get in a doctor’s office. The only difference is that instead of getting a doctor to order them for you, you order them online. Then you go to a commercial laboratory and they take a urine sample and/or blood. There are also at-home testing kits that allow you to collect your own sample of urine or saliva and send it to a company for testing. These tests are likely to be less accurate than lab-based testing. Below, we've highlighted both options, so you can read on to see which route you feel most comfortable with. What makes for a good at-home STI test? It provides clear information about what STIs are being tested forYou are able to get tested for any STI you might be worried aboutResults are provided in a clear manner, with access to a healthcare professional for more informationThe testing company will link you to treatment and/or further testing as appropriate What STIs Should I Get Tested For? The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an independent agency that makes recommendations for improving the public’s health. The CDC is a government agency that also makes recommendations for treatment. Each agency’s recommendations for who should get screened are summarized below. Other FAQs What else should I know about online STI testing? Are STI tests always accurate? What is an STI? What are the most common STIs? How long should I wait before STI testing? How often should I be screened for STIs? Where can I get free STI testing? What STIs can be tested for using urine vs blood? How long do you have to wait for an STI blood test? What is a rapid STI test? Can I get an STI again after I’ve been treated? If I have anal sex, do I need different STI tests? Why You Should Trust Our Recommendations If you know or suspect you have been exposed to an STI, these guidelines do not apply. They are designed to recommend whether the general population should be tested. If you know or suspect you have been exposed to an STI, testing is a good idea. The author of this guide, Elizabeth Boskey, has been a sexual health educator for more than 20 years. She has a Masters in Public Health and a Ph.D. focused on women’s reproductive health. In her professional capacity, she has counseled individuals about STI testing and fertility and taught about sexual health at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Review criteria are objective, and screening recommendations are based on evidence. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital herpes – CDC fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chlamydia – CDC fact sheet (detailed). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2018: syphilis.